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An Event Chronology Based on Louisbourg Accounts Not Available in the Archives of the Fortress of Louisbourg, By Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions, 2004 - Present

1782

• August 9, 1782

Arrived the coal fleet from Spanish River, 10 after 21 days' passage, in which were lost a sloop, a schooner, and a brig ....

[The Marston Diaries Benjamon Marston Of Marblehead, Loyalist, His Trials And Tribulations During The American Revolution - http://ultratext.hil.unb.ca/Texts/Marston/articles/NBHS.html#10 ]

• October 25, 1782

October 25, 1782

Quebec 25th Octr 1782

The Right Honble Thomas Townshend

Sir , The present situation of Public affairs is such as necessarily employs the thoughts & attention of every person who has the honor to be employed by His Majesty, or who feels himself interested for the welfare of his Kingdom.

Equally sensible of your Friendship to myself, as persuaded of your attachment to the service of the King--I write this letter for your private Information, having an entire Confidence in the Indulgence with which you will receive any suggestions or Hints, which may be improved to the benefit of your Country--

The Evacuation of the Posts which has already taken, or which, may hereafter take place in the Provinces bordering upon the Atlantic, has engaged some Loyalists to seek an Asylum in this country-- I have great reason to think that many more will follow their Example in hopes of getting Grants of Land here to compensate for those which they have forfeited in their own Country by their Loyalty to the King.

The unconceded Lands in this country are unfortunately of little value not improveable, not being fertile in themselves and at a great distance from the River St Lawrence.

I am assured by the Loyalists that in case New York is evacuated a very great number of Families who have taken refuge there at Different Periods of the War, will be obliged to seek an Asylum in Nova Scotia or Canada--The situation of these people Excites Compassion and requires every assistance which Government can afford them. In conversing with Major Holland who surveyed Cape Breton in the year 1776, it has occured to me that an Establishment might he procured for these unfortunate People on that Island, which in a few years would become comfortable to themselves, as well as beneficial to the Mother Country.

The Island contains a great Quantity of improveable Land, as well as many valuable Harbors & Stations for Fisheries. Its proximity to Newfoundland, the Island of St John's & Gulf of St. Lawrence is such that the Fleet or Cruizers necessary for its Defence, will be equally usefull for the Protection of the Trade carried on at these Places, but as Major Holland transmitted in a plan of Cape Breton to the Board of Trade, you will be able to form a better opinion from the Plan, of the advantages of situation, than from any Description which I can give. It may be presumed that these People having suffered so much Persecution for their attachment to the Crown of Great Britain, will transmit the same to their Posterity In case Government should approve this idea, Cape Breton may be made an Asylum for the Refugees from the Sea Coasts of the Northern Provinces: There are already in this Province many Loyalists, and no doubt many more will soon arrive, from the Frontiers of New England & New York, perhaps an Establishment may be procured for them, at, or near Detroit. The Lands there are fertile & can be cultivated with ease. The climate is in every respect advantageous. A settlement of men at that place who by Principle and a sense of sufferings, are attached to Great Britain will be a great support to our Indian Allies, who have everything to fear from the encroachments of the Americans.

Besides such settlement would in a few years raise a quantity of Provisions sufficient for the Garrisons, which it will be necessary to keep in the Upper Countries & might prove an essential resource in case at any future period the communication between the Upper & the Lower Canada should be so far interrupted as the supplies of Provisions could not be sent from the latter.
The settlement ought to all intents and Purposes to be under Military Government. The officer appointed to that command should have at least the Rank of Lieut. Colonel in the Army. The Lieut Governor of Detroit is at present Mr. Hay, whose Rank in the Army is that of Lieutenant, his appointment of Major of Militia by Captain Hamilton at that time Lieut Governor of Detroit, giving him no Rank in the Army. Tho' I have no objection to Mr. Hay, yet that circumstance has put me under the necessity to detain him this winter at Montreal, as his taking the command from Major de Peyster at the time when the Enemy tho' repulsed in two actions, persist in their attempts against the Indian Country, might be attended with great inconvenience to the Service. Major de Peyster from having commanded there for some years is well acquainted with the nature & resources of the Service, & has acquired great Influence with the Indians. Tho' his zeal & Duty for the service might induce Major de Peyster to serve if ordered to remain at Detroit under the command of Lieut. Gov. Hay, yet that is a mortification which in the present state of things I think improper in me to impose upon so deserving an officer.

[Source: Michigan Historical Society Records, Volume 10, pp. 667-668 ]

• November 29, 1782

[November 29, 1782]

1782 NOVEMBER 29 FRYDAY.

Met Mr. Fitsherbert, Mr. Oswald, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, Mr. Laurens and Mr. Stratchey at Mr. Jays, Hotel D'Orleans, and spent the whole Day in Discussions about the Fishery and the Tories. I proposed a new Article concerning the Fishery. It was discussed and turned in every Light, and multitudes of Amendments proposed on each Side, and at last the Article drawn as it was finally agreed to. The other English Gentlemen being withdrawn upon some Occasion, I asked Mr. Oswald if he could consent to leave out the Limitation of 3 Leagues from all their Shores and the 15 from those of Louisbourg. He said in his own Opinion he was for it, but his Instructions were such, that he could not do it. I perceived by this, and by several Incidents and little Circumstances before, which I had remarked to my Colleagues, who were much of the same opinion, that Mr. Oswald had an Instruction, not to settle the Articles of the Fishery and Refugees, without the Concurrence of Mr. Fitsherbert and Mr. Stratchey.

Upon the Return of the other Gentlemen, Mr. Stratchey proposed to leave out the Word Right of Fishing and make it Liberty. Mr. Fitsherbert said the Word Right was an obnoxious Expression.

Upon this I rose up and said, Gentlemen, is there or can there be a clearer Right? In former Treaties, that of Utrecht and that of Paris, France and England have claimed the Right and used the Word. When God Almighty made the Banks of Newfoundland at 300 Leagues Distance from the People of America and at 600 Leagues distance from those of France and England, did he not give as good a Right to the former as to the latter.

If Heaven in the Creation gave a Right, it is ours at least as much as yours. If Occupation, Use, and Possession give a Right, We have it as clearly as you. If War and Blood and Treasure give a Right, ours is as good as yours. We have been constantly fighting in Canada, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia for the Defense of this Fishery, and have expended beyond all Proportion more than you. If then the Right cannot be denied, Why should it not be acknowledged? and put out of Dispute? Why should We leave Room for illiterate Fishermen to wrangle and chicane?

Mr. Fitsherbert said, the Argument is in your Favour. I must confess your Reasons appear to be good, but Mr. Oswalds Instructions were such that he did not see how he could agree with Us. And for my Part, I am not have not the Honour and Felicity, to be a Man of that Weight and Authority, in my Country, that you Gentlemen are in yours (this was very genteelly said), I have the Accidental Advantage of a little favour with the present Minister, but I cannot depend upon the Influence of my own Opinion to reconcile a Measure to my Countrymen. We can consider our selves as little more than Pens in the hands of Government at home, and Mr. Oswalds Instructions are so particular.

I replied to this, The Time is not so pressing upon Us, but that We can wait, till a Courier goes to London, with your Representations upon this Subject and others that remain between Us, and I think the Ministers must be convinced.
Mr. Fitsherbert said, to send again to London and have all laid loose before Parliament was so uncertain a Measure -- it was going to Sea again.

Upon this Dr. Franklin said, that if another Messenger was to be sent to London, he ought to carry Something more respecting a Compensation to the Sufferers in America. He produced a Paper from his Pocket, in which he had drawn up a use Claim, and He said the first Principle of the Treaty was Equality and Reciprocity. Now they demanded of Us Payment of Debts and Restitution or Compensation to the Refugees. If a Draper had sold a Piece of Cloth to a Man upon Credit and then sent a servant to take it from him by Force, and after bring his Action for the Debt, would any Court of Law or Equity give him his Demand, without obliging him to restore the Cloth? Then he stated the carrying off of Goods from Boston, Philadelphia, and the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia &c. and the burning of the Towns, &c. and desired that this might be sent with the rest.

Upon this I recounted the History of G. [General] Gages Agreement with the Inhabitants of Boston, that they should remove with their Effects upon Condition, that they would surrender their Arms. But as soon as the Arms were secured, the Goods were forbid to be carried out and were finally carried off in large Quantities to Hallifax.

Dr. Franklin mentioned the Case of Philadelphia, and the carrying off of Effects there, even his own Library.

Mr. Jay mentioned several other Things and Mr. Laurens added the Plunders in Carolina of Negroes, Plate &c.

After hearing all this, Mr. Fitsherbert, Mr. Oswald and Mr. Stratchey, retired for some time,and returning Mr. Fitsherbert said that upon consulting together and weighing every Thing as maturely as possible, Mr. Stratchey and himself had determined to advise Mr. Oswald, to strike with Us, according to the Terms We had proposed as our Ultimatum respecting the Fishery and the Loyalists. -- Accordingly We all sat down and read over the whole Treaty and corrected it and agreed to meet tomorrow at Mr. Oswalds House, to sign and seal the Treaties which the Secretaries were to copy fair in the mean time.

I forgot to mention, that when We were upon the Fishery, and Mr. Stratchey and Mr. Fitsherbert were urging Us to leave out the Word Right and substitute Liberty, I told them at last that In Answer to their Proposal, to agree upon all other Articles, and leave that of the Fishery to be adjusted, at the definitive Treaty. I said, I never could put my hand to any Articles, without Satisfaction about the Fishery. That Congress had, 3 or 4 Years ago, when they did me the Honour to give me a Commission, to make a Treaty of Commerce with G. Britain, given me a positive Instruction, not to make any such Treaty, without an Article in the Treaty of Peace, acknowledging our Right to the Fishery, that I was happy that Mr. Laurens was now present who I believed was in Congress at the Time, and must remember it.

[Source: John Adams diary 37, 22 - 30 November 1782 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Boston, Mass. : Massachusetts Historical Society, 2002. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/ ]

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